Helicopter Crash in Kenya Claims Lives of Ecuador's Intelligence Head and Five Americans

Ecuador's intelligence chief and five Americans lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Kenya on Wednesday.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) reported that the helicopter was flying from the Loisaba wildlife conservancy to the Ewaso Ngiro river area when it went down.

The crash happened Wednesday morning at Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, which is north of Nairobi, the capital.

The aviation agency stated that an investigation is ongoing to find out what caused the crash.

According to the BBC, the helicopter belonged to Lady Lori Helicopters, a local company. It was taking guests on a tour from the Loisaba conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro river, which flows through several national parks.

All seven people on the helicopter, including the pilot, died in the accident.

The Ecuadorian intelligence chief was identified as Michele Sensi-Contugi. His wife, who is an Ecuadorian American and was also on board, is named Stephany Hollihan.

Ecuador confirmed his death in the helicopter crash in Kenya later on X.

The Ecuadorian presidency released a statement on X saying, "At this moment of deep sorrow, the government extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones, and close associates."

The foreign ministry of Ecuador mentioned that its embassy in South Africa is working with local authorities and allies in the area since it does not have a diplomatic mission in Kenya.

The ministry added, "The death of (Sensi-Contugi) represents a great loss for the country."

The US State Department confirmed that the other five victims were American citizens.

They stated, "The US embassy is in touch with local authorities and is providing consular assistance. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones on their loss."

However, they did not share the names of the victims.

The Guardian reported that a Telemundo executive, José Suarez, was also on the helicopter.

The NBC affiliate in Miami said, "We are heartbroken to learn the tragic news that José was killed in a helicopter accident in Kenya."

Earlier, the Kenyan Red Cross mentioned that search and recovery efforts were slowed down by tough terrain and an active fire at the crash site. They shared pictures of smoke coming from the area.

They added, "An additional team has been dispatched from Isiolo to reinforce the operation."